Window-cleaning device.



ff; Mmmm, is. GALL & J., BESTER.

WINDOW GLEANNG DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED sijPTQl, 1908.

Eatented Mar, 2, w09.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR T. BOLLAND, OF OAK PARK, AND JOHN GALL AND JOHN PATENT oiuioii.y

F. BESTER, oF CHICAGO,k

, ILLINOIS.

AWINDOW-oLEANING DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed September 1, 1908. Serial No.. 451,152.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR T. BOLLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Oak Park, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, and JOHN GALL and JOHN' F. BESTER, both citizens of the United States, and both residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is in the formcf a Squeegee device which is permanently attached t0 the window frame of the window upon which it is intended to act; and the object of theinvention to permit the outside. of such windew to be cleaned by manipulation from the inside Without the necessity for opening the' window, and without the necessity of stand-v ing outside of the window during the cleaning operation.

The invention is particularly applicable to the front windows of street cars or electric 'cars generally, through which, the motorman commands a view of the track ahead.l In rainy or snowy weather it frequently happens that such windows are obscured'by the accumulation of snow or moisture on the window, so that it becomes diflicult, if not iinpossible, for the motorman to view the track ahead, thereby endangering the safety of the passengers. lt is dillicult, if not an impossibility, for the motorman to clean the outside of the window fromwithinthe'l car while' at lhigh speed, and frequent'cleaningl of the window, while the car is stopped is not feasible. The present invention permits thewindow to be instantly cleaned atfrequent intervals by the manipulation of a handle within easy reach of the operator, so that the window can be cleaned as often as required without materially interfering .with the motormans manipulation of the devices controlling the car.

ed for use on trolley cars or other electric cars it lcan be used on automobiles, or windows generally, on which. it is desiredv to secure Although the invention is peculiarly'adapt-- l Fig. 2 a sectional plan view of the same Fig.

'3 an enlarged cross sectional view'of thef squeegee frame and squeegee; Figs. 4 and 5 two details showing the squeegee in different posit-ions of adjustment; and Fig. 6 a detail of the housing.

The device is applied to a Window frame having side rails 6, a top rail 7, and a bottoni or base rail -8 of the usual...character n and of any desired size or proportions.

' The side rails, adjacent the window pane 9., are provided with vertical slots 10, which latter permit movement of the movable portions of the device; vCleaning is performedby means ofa rubber squeegee 12, which is. set at. an. oblique angle with respect to .the outer face of the window pane and is adapted to cleanthe saine by a downward movement. The squeegee strip is clamped within a transversely extending frame 13 which is in the form of a flat plate provided with a liange 141:v at its outer edge. The rubmeans of a clamping bar 15 secured to the frame by means vof screws 16,01 in any other suitable manner. The frame lies at an oblique angle with respect to the outersurface of the window pane, and the upper inner .edge of the rubber strip forming the squeegee projects from the frame a sufhcint distance to engage the glass of a window pane. The frame 13 is provided, near its ends, withl a pair of depending fingers 16a, which are pivoted, 'near the centers, inside of ears 17, which outwardly project from the inner ends `sides of the window frame as a whole. The T bracket plates 18, on the outside 'of the window frame, cooperate with similar T shaped bracket' platesl on the inside of the window frame, which bracket plates are Aspaced and connected by means of spacing blocks 19, to which the bracket plates are se,- cured by means of screws 20. Between the ends of the bracket plates are interposed rollers 21, which engage the sides of vertical slots and serve vto facilitate the travel of the brackets. The bracket plates 18a are connected by means of a transversely extending .handle bar 22, on the inside of the window pane, in the center of which handle bar is a handle 23, which permits vertical manipulation ofthe device as a whole. The bar 22, on the inside of the window, cooperates with a connecting bar24 similarly'positioned on ber is held in position within the frame by l of T shaped bracket plates 18, on opposite cam bars abut, being he Fig. 3. is

pressure against the ends of the fingers 16a,

which spring pressure serves to bring the edge of the squeegee into close contact with the face of the window pane. The springs are held in place by means of inwardly project-v ing screws 27, a nut or washer 23 being interposed to permit adjustment of the spring pressure. ln order to throw the squeegee out of contact with the window pane on the upward stroke of the handle, cam bars 29, one on each side, are provided, which are entered through slots 29n cut in the inner faces of the inwardly extending vportions of theT bracket plates, the upper ends of which cam bars are beveled, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and are adapted to underlie a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 30 on the ends of the squeegee clamping bar,15. The cam bars are provided with recesses 31,` which l afford shoulders 32 .and 33, for limiting their movements; and the bars are adapted'to be thrown from one' position to another by contact with upper and lower stops 33a and 34, which are-formed on inner guide plates 35 Whch'lie inside of the vertical slots on each side of the window and a ainst whichthe d .between said lates and the slotted portion of the T l rackets.- The inner guide /plates are supl plemented by outer guide plates 36, posi# tioned outside of the slots,l which plates afford metallic surfaces for preventing wear during the movements ofthe squeegee frame. ln order to'provide against the ingress of moisture, dust, or other' foreign substances through the slots, the latter are protected on the outside by means of housings 37, each l of which is provided,`along its inner edge, l with a lip or flange 38 provided, near its lower end, with a recess 39, which is beveled or rounded at its upper end 40, and which serves to afford a clearance for the bracket plates when the squeegee 1s in its lowermost position. The housing issecured to a plate is being raised anism heretofore describ f ln use, when it is of snow or sleet, the

' of the housing 41 by means of a hinge 42 provided witha spring 43 adapted to hold the flanged edge l into close contact with the inner guide plate, save only when the device and lowered.

l lf, for any reason, it isdesired to provide a squecgee for the insideof the window as well as the outside, the squeegee frame and meched can, without change or modiication, be duplicated on the inside of the window.

desired toA clean a window handle will be raised with suflicient force to bring the upper ends of the l cam bars into sharp contact with the upper stops 33EL which movement serves to throw the Vsqueegee were 1 the springs so down the cam bars into their lowerinost position, thereby releasing the lugs 30 from the position shown in Fig. 4, and allowing them to fall in the position shown in Fig. 5, which release permits the springs 26 acting against the outer or free ends of the fingers 16a to exert a pressure which will hold the edge of the squeegeeinto close engagement with the surface of the window as the handle' on the inside oi the window is lowered. The oblique angle of the squeegee, with respect to the window, causes water, snow or sleet to be carried down by the squeegee without di'fliculty until the lowermost position is reached, at which point the handle is moved with suflicient suddenness 'to bring the cam bars into throws the bars-from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby again elevatingY the s ueegee frame and permitting further manipulation of the squeegee. vBy providing the stop and cam mechanism heretofore described the squeegee can be easily raised, which would be difficult vor impossible if the angularly disposed edge' of maintained in contact with the windowpane during the upward thrust. During the movements of the squeegee the housings will be raised against the that the movable-portions of the mechanism can pass under the edges of the housings without exposing the slots, and without permitting ingress of water from without.

' ln the specification and claims where we use the term squeegee, it will be understood that such term is not to be strictly limited to a strip of rubber, but contemplates any suitable substance adapted to be manipulated in the manner specified, whereby the window can be wiped and cleaned.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. The combination of a window vframe provided with parallel slots forming guideways, brackets moving within the slots, a squeegee frame carried by the brackets and carrying a squeegee side of the window, a handle on the opposite side of the window connected with the brackets, and springs for holding the squeegee under pressure against the window, substantially as describe 2. The combination of a window frame provided with parallel slots forming guide-- ways, brackets moving within the slots, a squeegee frame carried by the brackets and carrying a squeegee adapted to` engage o ne side of the window, ahandle on the opposite side of the window connected with the brackets, springs for holding-the'squeegee under pressure againstv the window, and means for automatically throwingl the squeegee out of contact with the window, substantially as described.

l sharp contact with the lower stops 34, which adapted to engage onel eiaioe 3. Thel combination of -a window traine provided with parallel slots, forming gindeways, brackets moving withinthe slots, a

carr

etsfsprings for. hold' the squeegee under pressure-'against the Window, a slidable camv ar carried .by one of 'the bracketsa'nd. adapted to throw the squcegee out offengagement -with the Window, vand stops adapted to be engagedby the slidable' cam bar forniovingfthe of adjustment,

same; to different positions substantially as described. l

' 4. The combination of a' window frame provided with' parallel slots forming guide- .ways, brackets movable Within the slots, 'each of thefbrackets comprising a pair of cfonnected Vbracket plates inwardly extend? ingtoward the Window, ahandle bar connecting the bracket plates on one side of the Win-dow, a bar' connecting .the brackets on the opposite side of the'window, a sqiieegee frame pivojted. on the side Aof the window opposite the handle, and a` squeegee carried within the squeegee frame,-substantiallyas described.

' 5. The combination of a window frame provided with parallel slots forming guideways, brackets movable within the slots',

I eachof thebrackets comprising apair or' conaected bracket'v plates inwardly extending toward V the window, a handlebai-connecting fthe bracket plates fon one side-off the window,

a bai connecting the brackets on the opposite sidejolz the window, a squeegee frame pivoted on theside ofthe window opposite ,the handle, "a squeegee carried within the `squeegee frame, andsprings adapted to hold the squeegeein close engagement with the window', substantially as described.l

6. The combination of ka window traine provided with parallel slots forming guideways, brackets movable within the slots,

' each of the brackets comprising a pair of connected bracketplates inwardly extend 'ing toward the window, a handlebar cion necting the bracket plates on one side of the- Window, a bar connecting the brackets on the loppesite side of the window, a sqneegee -frame pivoted on the side of the Window opposite the handle, a sqneegee carried the end of the squeegee frame and adapted,y v

l'when moved to one position, to throw the squeegee out ofcontact with the Window, and stops near the ends ofthe guideways and located in position to be engaged by .thelcain bar to throw the bar to different positions of adjustment, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a window frame 'provided with parallel slots forming guideways, brackets slidable within the guideways and each comprising a pair of connected bracket plates, a handle bar connected with the bracket plates on one side of the window, a bar connecting the bracket plates on the other. side of the-window,a squeegeefraine, a squeegee carried by the frame, lingers rearwardly projecting from the squeegee frame and pivoted to the bracket plates on the side of the window opposite tothe handle, and springs engaging the free ends of the lingers and adapted to exert a pressure thereon to hold the squeegee in contact with the window, 'substantially as described.

8. The combination of a window frame provided with parallelV slots forming guideways, brackets slidable within the guideways and each comprising a )air of connected bracket plates, a lianle bar connected with the bracket plates on one side' of the window, a bar connecting the bracket plates on the other side of the window, a

squeegee frame, a squeegee carried by the frame, -fingers rearwardly projecting from the squeegee frame and pivotcd to the opposite to the handle, springs engaging the free ends of the fingers and adapted to exert a pressure thereon'to hold the-squecgee in contact with the window, and automatic means for retracting the squeegee frame to throw the sqneegee out of contact with the window, substantially as described.

` ARTHUR T. BOLLAND.

4JOHN GALL.

JOHN FJDESTER.

. W'itnesses: HOWARD J. Dns'rnn, .SAMUEL W. BANNING.

.bracket plates on the side of thewindow 

